Astros rally past Red Sox to take series opener

1of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Fans cheer as Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros returns to the dugout after scoring in the eighth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

3of 33Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Joe Kelly walks back to the the mound after his wild pitch allowed Houston Astros' George Springer (4) to score during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

4of 33Boston Red Sox's J.D. Martinez pumps his fist after his RBI single against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

5of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox steps on home plate scoring in the first inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

6of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

11of 33Houston Astros' George Springer goes for a head-first slide into home as Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon gets a late throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

12of 33Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price gestures as fans cheer him after he was pulled from a baseball game during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

13of 33Houston Astros' Carlos Correa leans back after being called out on strikes during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

14of 33Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts, right, slides safely into third base after advancing from first to third on a single as Alex Bregman gets the throw during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

15of 33Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts salutes the crowd after hitting a home run as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

16of 33Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts pumps his fist after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

17of 33Boston Red Sox's Sandy Leon, left, is safe at first after reaching on a wild pitch on a strikeout as the ball hits Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

18of 33Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts, left, blows a kiss as he crosses the plate after his home run as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

19of 33Boston Red Sox's David Price delivers against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

21of 33Boston Red Sox's David Price delivers against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)Photo: Winslow Townson/Associated Press

22of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros slides safely under the incoming tag of Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning of a game at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

23of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Ryan Brasier #70 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he returns to the dugout in the seventh inning after giving up the lead to the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

24of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros reacts at second base after he was safe under the tag of Ian Kinsler #5 of the Boston Red Sox in the seventh inning of a game at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

25of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Yuli Gurriel #10 high fives Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros after scoring in the seventh inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

26of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Jose Altuve #27 and George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros warm up in the on deck circle before the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

27of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Boston Red Sox Manager Alex Cora takes David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox out of the game in the seventh inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

28of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros looks on as Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of a game at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

29of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Jake Marisnick #6 of the Houston Astros makes a catch in the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

30of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Ryan Brasier #70 of the Boston Red Sox looks on as Tony Kemp #18 of the Houston Astros rounds first base after hitting a two-run double to take the lead in the seventh inning of a game at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

31of 33BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 7: Joe Kelly #56 of the Boston Red Sox looks on as George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros slides safely under the tag of Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning of a game at Fenway Park on September 7, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)Photo: Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

David Price maintains mercurial relationships within this city. In 2015, the Red Sox gave him the richest contract ever bestowed to a major league pitcher. Two and a half seasons into the seven-year agreement, his performance sometimes fails to match astronomical expectations such a deal carries.

Price left the mound in the seventh inning to adulation from the 36,930 who gathered here for a playoff precursor. They stood in awe of the evisceration executed upon one of baseball's best offenses.

Price's night concluded.

The Astros' had just begun.

Houston hammered the two relievers who followed, scoring six times and striking eight hits in the final three innings to secure a 6-3 win against the Red Sox, a somewhat lopsided result unbecoming of the nine innings which produced it.

"Once we knocked (Price) out and got to that bullpen, I think that we had a boost of confidence, a little refresher," Tony Kemp said. "Once we got to the bullpen, I think that we started having better at-bats and doing what we needed to do."

Manager A.J. Hinch was adamant this was "just another game in September." Still, it oozed postseason pomp. Good hitters beat great relievers. Household names expected to execute in massive moments did.

J.D. Martinez scorched a game-tying single against Astros reliever Ryan Pressly in the seventh inning. Two seeing-eye singles started the Astros' eighth. Bregman boomed a third single of his own.

Third-base coach Gary Pettis, aggressive as any man in the league, held George Springer against Mookie Betts' brawny arm in right field. The bases were loaded for Carlos Correa.

His malaise was pronounced. Since returning from a month-long stint on the disabled list, his batting average was .171. Twice on Friday, he struck out looking.

Here, the task was rudimentary — place the baseball in the air.

On the second pitch from flamethrower Joe Kelly, he did. Correa lifted a low curveball to shallow right field. Betts corralled it.

His throw sailed up the line as Springer slid safely with the go-ahead run. Tyler White followed with a run-scoring single. Offensive competency appeared in Price's absence.

For the two innings he umpired, Brian O'Nora employed a generous strike zone. A second-inning foul tip to the facemask forced him from the game. O'Nora's replacement, David Rackley, kept the trend.

Price's arsenal played to the advantage. Eight of his 25 cutters were called strikes. Eight more two-seamers, too. After Yuli Gurriel singled in the fourth inning, Price retired the next 14 men he encountered.

Springer, Jose Altuve and Correa combined to strike out looking against him six times. Correa fell victim to a cutter in the seventh, notching Price's first out.

"Him coming out of the game was a good opportunity for us," Gurriel said through an interpreter. "We were able to put some runs on the board."

To begin the seventh, Bregman golfed a ground ball to Eduardo Nunez. Nunez refused to backhand the baseball. It trickled into the left-field corner. An Astro touched second base for the first time all night. Price's process was interrupted.

He did not record another out. With Bregman at second base, Tyler White coaxed a six-pitch walk. Price's pitch count sat at 101. Still, Cora took the baseball.

Ryan Brasier loosened on the mound. He elevated a first-pitch fastball. Gurriel cranked it off the left-center field wall, a 362-foot missile to score Bregman from second base.

Price was gone. The Astros were arriving.

"It's what we did last year and what we try to do this year," Gurriel said. "It's part of the characteristic of our team and that's what we're trying to do."

Josh Reddick sawed Brasier's next pitch foul. He yelled furiously while catcher Sandy Leon parked under it for a second out. Kemp emerged from the far side of the dugout as a pinch hitter for Martin Maldonado.

Kemp raced ahead in the count 3-0. Brasier flung a slider for strike one. A fastball then dotted below the zone. Kemp flipped his bat and began walking to first. Rackley deemed it a strike. Kemp trudged back to the box. Boos filled the ballpark at the gaffe.

Silence soon overtook it. Brasier ran a fastball inside against the lefthanded hitting Kemp. Somehow, he inside-outed the offering up the third-base line.

"I think he would have called it a strike," Kemp said. "I just tried to fight it off and it stayed true. This team battles and it's a good win for us overall. This is a very resilient team, I've said it all year."

Both runs scored. Kemp gyrated viciously at second base — milking the cow, as the Astros call it — leaving his hands to the sky.

"(Once) the momentum started to go our way, the at-bats got a little bit better, we got some key hits all in a row," Hinch said. "When we're at our best, we're putting really good at-bats together one after the other."

Chandler Rome joined the Houston Chronicle in 2018 to cover the Astros after spending one year in Tuscaloosa covering Alabama football — during which Nick Saban asked if he attended college. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. He covered most of the Astros' 2015 playoff run, too, as an intern for MLB.com

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